Chapter 565: Listen to Advice, Eat Your Fill

Chapter 565 -527: Listen to Advice, Eat Your Fill

“A fight’s starting! A fight’s starting!”

The moment Guan Rong took that step, the Yuchi Race sensed it, and every one of them looked up toward the front.

「At the same time.」

That single step he took was like the crack of a starting pistol.

All the cultivators on the island—be they Golden Core, Fake Pill, Foundation Establishment, or Qi Refining—attacked in unison. They knew Chen Che’s strength, so they didn’t dare show the slightest hesitation.

Thus, their first moves were all aimed to kill.

A vast torrent of True Essence flowed from their bodies, every last drop poured into their respective techniques.

“Are they trying to annihilate him in one blow?”

Seeing this, the Fake Pill cultivator from the Yuchi Race couldn’t help but grip the ship’s rail.

Although he hoped Yuchi Hao’s decision was the right one, his reason told him that under normal circumstances, a Golden Core Sixth Layer cultivator couldn’t possibly withstand such a ferocious storm of attacks.

Even if he managed to block it, what would await him was a relentless, all-encompassing assault from every cultivator on the island.

In his years of cultivation, he had seen countless arrogant cultivators die under the combined assault of a group.

‘Perhaps we can wait until both sides are crippled before we make our move.’

At that moment, an even bolder thought quietly surfaced in his mind.

But the thought had barely formed before it vanished completely. He saw Chen Che, standing amidst the storm of attacks, showing no intention of dodging or even defending. He simply turned his hand over, and a Gourd appeared in his palm.

Then, everyone witnessed a sight they would never forget.

They watched as Chen Che formed a Seal Technique, and a golden light burst from the mouth of the Gourd.

The sky-full of Magic, including Magical Artifacts and Talismans, was instantly enveloped by the golden light. In that single moment, the cultivators on the island felt a sharp pain in their Divine Souls as they lost control of their Magical Artifacts and Talismans on the spot.

Then, to their utter disbelief, the Magical Artifacts they had sent flying spun a few times in mid-air before being sucked into the Gourd, like a whale drawing in water.

“For real?”

Every single cultivator from the Yuchi Race stared wide-eyed, utterly dumbfounded.

CLANG!

Some of them didn’t even react when the cargo boxes they were unloading crashed to the ground.

Meanwhile, atop the Eagle Beast, Chen Che stood untouched, without a single speck of dust on him. It was as if everything that had just happened was a trivial matter.

“I… I… what did I just see? Did he… did he just suck up everyone’s attacks?”

The Fake Pill cultivator from the Yuchi Race was completely stunned.

“You… you’re not seeing things…”

Yuchi Hao also swallowed hard.

He had anticipated that Chen Che was strong, but he truly hadn’t expected him to be *this* powerful.

“I… I…”

Guan Rong, blade in hand and body half-crouched, was already lunging through the air.

He had planned to use the moment Chen Che was defending against the attacks to close in and land a devastating blow. Even if that failed, snatching the Juvenile Turtle would have been an excellent prize, as he greatly coveted that Dragon Turtle.

But who could have imagined that the man would neutralize the combined assault so easily? For a moment, Guan Rong was stuck in mid-air, unable to advance or retreat.

“H-how is he this terrifying?”

Everyone was completely thunderstruck.

But for the Yuchi Race, the shock gave way to profound relief.

Many of them wanted to give themselves a hard slap. They had never imagined this Valley Master’s power to be so tyrannical, instantly obliterating all the resentment in their hearts.

All their previous talk of fighting to the death and using their superior numbers to overwhelm him had become a complete joke.

‘I’m afraid even with twice our numbers, the best we could hope for is a pyrrhic victory. And even then, our chances would be slim, because he clearly has other abilities he hasn’t even shown yet!’

‘The Old Ancestor is brilliant!’

‘The Old Ancestor’s foresight is incredible… If we had really attacked him recklessly, we would be the ones in trouble right now!’

‘No wonder the Old Ancestor was able to reach Core Formation. With insight like that, who else could have done it?’

The previous dissatisfaction, ridicule, and contempt the clansmen held for Yuchi Hao vanished into thin air.

Indeed, cultivators needed a brave and dauntless spirit, a determination to face any danger. But that didn’t mean they should act like an ant trying to shake a tree—that was just a display of foolishly overestimating one’s own strength!

While everyone was still reeling, Chen Che flicked a finger.

SWOOSH!

A Flying Sword shot out.

A chill ran down Guan Rong’s spine. He raised his blade to block without a second thought, but his sturdy, burly frame was no match for that simple flick.

CRACK—

With a sharp crack, a Sword Rainbow of incredibly condensed Sword Qi shattered his long blade in an instant.

Blood sprayed into the air.

The Sword Rainbow pierced through his chest.

Before the horror could even fully register in Guan Rong’s eyes, he was swept up by the sword and brutally slammed from the sky into the ground below.

“Old Ancestor!”

The members of the Guan Family cried out in shock and fury.

“Hmm?”

Chen Che’s brow furrowed as he shot them a cold glance.

“Don’t move…”

Guan Rong managed to force the words out, coughing up mouthfuls of blood. He still managed to stop his kinsmen in the nick of time, then struggled to his feet and bowed deeply to Chen Che. “Thank you, Valley Master, for your mercy!”

“I, Guan Rong, submit completely. My family is willing to pay three times the ransom. I am also willing to remain here and guard the Jinghai Island Reef for you for thirty years. I will serve you with all my heart and dare not slack in the slightest. I only ask that you spare my family.”

The gap in their strength was simply too vast.

He had used his full strength and couldn’t even scratch the man. In contrast, his opponent had merely lifted a finger and left him grievously wounded and vomiting blood—and it was clear he had been holding back.

‘If I continue to be ungrateful, I’d just be forcing him to annihilate us!’

“Do you still think I was being unreasonable?”

Chen Che watched him quietly.

“Not at all!”

Guan Rong shook his head and took a deep breath. “I submit willingly.”

The members of the Guan Family shared his bleak sentiment.

Since even their Old Ancestor was bowing his head and begging for mercy, the others could only follow suit.

“Good. In that case, I’ll spare your life.”

Chen Che recalled his Flying Sword.

He hadn’t tried to annihilate them from the start because he naturally intended to bring them under his control. The Primordial Sect would soon be at war with the Mist Rain Tower, and the situation would become chaotic. Relying on Zhao Changping alone wouldn’t be enough to defend this island.

Moreover, these Golden Core cultivators were all forces under the Mist Rain Tower’s banner. Rather than waiting to plunder them after the war began, only to have the Primordial Sect take seventy percent of the spoils, it was better for him to seize them himself first.

“Thank you, Valley Master Chen!”

Guan Rong bowed again.

Seeing this, his clansmen could only obediently hand over their Spirit Stones. However, the tripled sum was enormous, and many had to offer their personal Magical Artifacts, Weapons, and Pills as payment.

A bitter look crossed Guan Rong’s face as he watched. He knew that even after selling off everything the family owned, they would still have a massive shortfall.

At least thirty to forty percent of his family members would have to work for free on the island reef for decades to repay their debt.

Seeing the pained expressions on the Guan Family cultivators, their empty-handed embarrassment, and their desperation as they tried to borrow Spirit Stones, the Yuchi Race cultivators looked at their own Old Ancestor with growing reverence.

‘This foresight, this decision… it’s beyond just brilliant.’

‘Following an Old Ancestor like him, our future is secure!’

“And the rest of you?”

Chen Che’s gaze swept across the crowd.

Another Golden Core cultivator quickly lowered his eyes submissively. “I also submit completely. I am willing to offer three times the ransom and stand guard over Jinghai Island Reef for thirty years. I only ask that the Valley Master spare our lives.”

“Me too!”

“Our family as well.”

The crowd that had just been vowing to fight Chen Che to the death, refusing to yield, now all bowed their heads in submission.

What a joke. If they had harbored any unrealistic fantasies before the fight, seeing Chen Che in action was a rude awakening.

“Was it really necessary?”

These words came from Yuchi Hao.

He had advised them earlier that while Spirit Stones were important, their lives were more so. Unfortunately, no one had listened. They even thought he was a coward. Now, after getting beaten, they had to pay a triple ransom, and several Golden Core cultivators were forced to remain on the island.

Hearing this, the bitter taste in Guan Rong’s mouth intensified.

‘The old proverbs are right,’ he thought. ‘Heed good counsel, and you’ll live to see another day…’